ENGLAND might be top of the world when it comes to age group football at the moment, but Clarets midfielder Jack Cork is hoping there might still be room for experience in the Three Lions squad.

The Under-17s and Under-20s won their respective World Cups this summer, while the Under-19s also claimed European glory, and Gareth Southgate's latest squad gave a nod to youth, with Joe Gomez, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Tammy Abraham all called up.

Cork represented the Three Lions at every level from Under-16 to Under-21, but he's been overlooked for senior recognition despite a fine start to the campaign in Burnley colours.

But the 28-year-old hasn't given up on his England dream, despite his advancing years and the success at youth level this summer.

“I don't know if I'm getting old or something...I'm knocking on 30 in a couple of years," Cork said. "We'll see. I'd love to play for England, but manager's choice isn't it?"

Even if Cork doesn't get the call he believes Southgate could do worse than cast an eye over some of his Turf Moor colleagues who have been so influential in Burnley's bright start to the season.

“I'd like to think maybe one of us would get a chance sometime," he said. "To be in seventh is a good position and if they're picking on form we've got Tarks (James Tarkowski), Ben Mee, Lowts (Matt Lowton), Popey (Nick Pope) all keeping clean sheets on a regular basis.

“One day if we keep the form going maybe one of us can get in the squad."

The latest chance to impress for the Clarets' English contingent comes on the south coast today as Burnley travel to Southampton.

It's a return to familiar territory for Cork who moved to St Mary's from Chelsea just after his final Turf Moor loan spell.

He made over 120 appearances for the Saints, winning promotion from the Championship, and it's a time of his career that he looks back on fondly.

"For me, when I was there, it was a brilliant club and it was probably the highlight of my career," Cork said.

"I made some great friends, we had a great team unit similar to this where we had a good solid core of players that worked hard and had a bit of quality. It was really enjoyable and I'm really looking forward to going back and seeing all the old faces."

Southampton are in the early stages of life under Mauricio Pellegrino after ditching Claude Puel in the summer and Cork believes his old club could be suffering from the glass ceiling that the top six have created in the Premier League.

"It's tough. Southampton are getting to that point where they've been in the Premier League for a few years," Cork added.

"They had the cup final last year which gave them a bit of an extra boost but they've been a mid-table team in the Premier League for four or five years now.

"I'm not sure I'd call it a stale period for them but the attitude has changed and it does make it hard for managers coming in - look at Puel last year - because the fans want more.

"It's tough because trying to break in to that top six is always going to be a big challenge. It's tough to be a fan when a club is trying to get past a certain stage."